Combination implement



Filed Jan. 6, 1937 H I? i IINVENTOR BY JZ [Mali/[[6 ATTORN EY Patented Nov. 30, 1937 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE 1 Claim.

This invention relates to combination implements which are more particularly adapted for efiecting repairs in aerial cables. More specifically, such implements include a pair of pivotally connected levers and pliers are formed at one side of the pivotal connection while tongs are formed at the other side of the pivotal'connection.

It has been found in the use of electric transmission cables that sheath breaks, ring cuts, fatigue cracks and other minor injuries occur in their lead sheaths and permit the entrance of moisture. This causes short-circuiting, grounding or other damage to the insulated conductors contained in the cable and it is necessary, in order to clear this condition, that the cable sheath be opened suiiiciently at the point of injury to obtain access and withdraw the damaged portions of the conductors for repair. When this operation has been performed it is necessary, after the replacement of the conductors, to repair the injured portion of the cable. It is the usual practice to make temporary repairs under these conditions and to later send a cable splicer to effect permanent repairs. This practice has been found in some cases to be inconvenient and also expensive.

Accordingly it is one of the objects of this invention to provide a combination implement by one element of which electric transmission cables may be opened at the point of injury to the cable sheath so that the damaged conductors may be withdrawn for repair, and by the other element of which the opened portion may be substantially closed after repair has been made.

Another object consists in the provision of a tool by which the opening and closing operations may be performed in an expeditious manner by an ordinary workman.

A further object consists in the provision of an implement of this character which is of simple design and comparatively inexpensive to manufacture.

These and further objects will be apparent from the following description when considered in connection with the accompanying drawing in which one embodiment of the invention is illustrated.

Referring to the drawing, Figure 1 shows an end elevation of the implement with the jaws of the pliers in operative engagement with the cable, and Fig. 2 is 'a side elevation of said implement.

In the drawing, the reference characters 5 and ((311. Bil-5.1)

6 are applied to levers having hinged portions 5, i. These portions are pivotally connected in any suitable manner and jaws 8, t of substantially arcuate formation, extend therefrom. These jaws cooperate to form pliers by which a cable 9 may be engaged. The cable engaging edge of one jaw is sharpened as shown at it, and the cable engaging jaw of the other jaw is blunt as shown at H. The functions of these jaws will be presently described.

The lower portions of the levers t and t form handles by which this improved implement may be manipulated, and projections i2, i2 and l3, l3 extend inwardly and toward each other from said levers. The portions extending between the points I2 and it of each lever are of arcuate formation, and the portions lying between the points It and extending toward the pivotal con nection of the levers are of substantially the same formation. These arcuate portions form jaws which cooperate to provide tongs to engage cables. The jaws formed by the upper arcuate cooperating portions are adapted to engage cables of small diameter in the space M, and the jaws formed by the lower cooperating portions are adapted to engage cables of large diameter in the space it.

In accordance with this invention the plier elements outlined above are adapted to initially pull apart the edges of a slit portion of the lead cable sheath so that access may be had to make repairs upon the conductors enclosed within said sheath. The tong elements are adapted to subsequently press the edges of the slit portion of the lead sheath back to substantially their original position after the repairs have been completed.

In the application of this device a proper tool is used to cut or slit the lead sheath a suitable distance in a longitudinal direction at the point of trouble. The sharpened jaw ill of one blade of the pliers is inserted in the slit portion, while the blunt edge ii of the other blade is wedged against the cable sheath tc-provide a fulcrum, as shown in Fig. 1. The implement is now rotated in a clockwise direction to pull the sheath apart. The position of the pliers on the cable may, of course, be reversed and rotation may be made in the opposite direction. After the selected portion of the cable sheath has been spread apart sufliciently, the portions of the enclosed damaged insulated conductors are pulled out through the opening above described, and the paper wrapping removed therefrom and the moisture which has collected on the insulation is dried. After the moisture has been dissipated, either by baking, boiling out with heated paraflln or otherwise, the paper insulated conductors are wrapped together again and pushed back into the lead sheath. The tongs of this implement are then applied, either the upper or lower tongs being used in accordance with the diameter oi! the'cable worked upon. The tongs will be so manipulated about the cable sheath as to press the pulled away portions of the sheath back into position so that the edges of these portions lie closely together; the cable will resume its normal formation at this point. The split portion may then be welded, brazed, soldered or the like to render the cable watertight.

While the arrangements of this invention have been illustrated as embodied in certain specific forms which have been deemed desirable, it will be understood that they are capable of embodiment in many and widely varied forms without departing from the spirit 0! the invention as defined in the appended claim.

What is claimed is:

An implement for eflecting repairs in electric transmission cables including a pair of pivotally connected levers, cable engaging elements at one end thereof comprising a Jaw having a dull edge engaging the cable sheath as a fulcrum and a jaw having a sharpened edge for engaging a slit in the cable sheath diametrically opposite the fulcrum to pull the sheath apart upon the rotation of the'implement about said i'ulcrum.

JOHN BOULWARE DOOLI'I'ILE. 

